Lawmakers demand answers after 32K gallons of jet fuel leaks at Joint Base Andrews

Nearly every member of Congress representing Maryland is demanding more information from Air Force Secretary Troy Meink after 32,000 gallons of jet fuel leaked at Joint Base Andrews earlier this year, setting off an investigation.

In a May 5 letter to Meink, the state delegates claim there has been a lack of transparency around the series of leaks, which took place between January and March and resulted in 22,000 gallons of fuel contaminating the soil outside the base and the waters of the nearby Piscataway Creek. 

In particular, the lawmakers raised concerns over the Air Force’s delay in providing full information regarding the leak to the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), the state entity charged with responding to environmental pollution incidents.

The MDE on April 13 announced it was investigating the fuel leaks, noting that the military base “failed to promptly disclose leaks as required by its state oil permit and did not report the full extent of the discharge until April 8.”

The department added that though the base’s........

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